ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Contamination of Drinking Water
In recent years, Government has taken a number of steps to make provision of potable drinking water in quality-affected habitations, as reported by States/ UTs, the number of habitations with contaminants in drinking water sources beyond permissible limit, is coming down. Year-wise details are as under:
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As on date
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Number of rural habitations with contaminants in drinking water sources
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01.04.2018
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64,743
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01.04.2019
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57,539
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01.04.2020
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54,637
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01.04.2021
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36,054
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06.02.2022
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35,370
Government of India, in partnership with States/ UTs, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission  – Har Ghar Jal to provide potable tap water supply to every rural household by 2024 with an estimated outlay of 3.60 lakh Crore. Under JJM, financial assistance is provided to States/ UTs. While planning water supply schemes to provide tap water supply to households, priority is given to quality–affected habitations. States may decide appropriate water treatment technologies for treatment of water to provide potable water to households.
For Jal Jeevan Mission, this Department has not sought any assistance from external agencies.
This Information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
Nataraja statue at Bharat Mandapam will stand as a testament to India's age-old artistry and traditions: PM
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has remarked that the magnificent Nataraja statue at Bharat Mandapam brings to life aspects of India’s rich history and culture.
Sharing a post on X by Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, the Prime Minister said:
“The magnificent Nataraja statue at Bharat Mandapam brings to life aspects of our rich history and culture. As the world gathers for the G20 summit, it will stand as a testament to India's age-old artistry and traditions.”
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Unique and engaging stories create stars: Director of ‘Alpha Beta Gamma’ Shankar Srikumar at IFFI52
‘Alpha Beta Gamma’ reveals importance of familial relationships
Panaji, 24 November 2021
“Man is a social animal and society is formed of relationships. I believe marriage is a relationship that is most beautiful and complicated at the same time. I remember this first chapter of my 6th standard Civics book, which in a way compelled me to make my debut feature film Alpha Beta Gamma”, said the Director Shankar Srikumar.
Addressing a Press Conference on the sidelines of 52nd IFFI at Goa today, Srikumar said that this film is about a marriage that is falling apart and a marriage that is coming closer. It’s about three people named as Alpha, Beta and Gamma, who are stuck in a flat due to Covid19 lockdown and what goes on in between them. Eventually three of them realized that they should move and try to find answer outside. But the real answer lay within.
“It’s a very personal story. There is a lot of me in the film. As this is my first film, I feel that it’s an extension of my own experiences”, the Director said.
He said that, the film is influenced by his own life. “I decided to walk away after 7 years of marriage, but then I changed the decision as advised by my father. I adopted and accepted many things and the situation changed in the later stage and everything went smooth”, he added.
Responding to a query on the importance of content in film, he said “Unique and engaging stories create stars. Our film industry should understand the importance of stories rather than only hankering for big stars.”
Lead actor Amit Kumar Vashishth, Producer Menka Sharma, Mona Shankar and Jithin Raj were also present on this occasion.
Alpha Beta Gamma

About the Director: An FTII graduate, Shankar Srikumar has written several TV shows and a film titled ‘XYX’ . ‘Alpha Beta Gamma’ is his directorial debut.
About the Film: When Jai arrives at his estranged wife Mitali’s flat to discuss divorce details, she’s with Ravi whom she wants to marry. Ravi prepares to leave them alone to settle matters, but the lockdown strikes, and the three are locked into the apartment block. Soon, jealousy and regret take over Jai. As passion sparks violent reactions between three individuals caught in their personal dilemmas, will it destroy lives, or will the journey inward help these tormented souls find their own, stable orbits?
Cast & Crew
Producers: Choti Film Productions & Knownsense Entertainment
Screenplay: Shankar Srikumar, Menka Sharma
DOP: Karthik Kumar Bhagat
Editor: Mandar Sawant
Cast: Amit Kumar Vashishth, Nishan Nanaiah, Reena AggarwalTEAM IFFI PIB | NT/SSP/DR/IFFI-75
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Ministry of Science & Technology
New scheme launched to augment research capabilities in state universities and colleges
A new scheme was launched to augment the research capabilities in a structured way to create a robust R&D ecosystem in state and private universities and colleges, including self-financed institutions working within these universities.
State University Research Excellence  is a new innovative scheme of the Science and Engineering Research Board , a statutory body of the Department of Science and Technology , that can foster collaboration for high-end research at state and private universities and colleges.
“The new scheme will help bring the university system, which was so far mostly limited to teaching, into mainstream research and enable the young faculty there to participate in cutting-edge research,” said Dr. Srivari Chandrasekhar, Chairman SERB and Secretary, Department of Science and Technology  at the launch of the programme. He added that the new programme, which would also support data-driven social science research, would be a great stimulus to the latent potential that lies in our universities.
Chairman University Grants Commission, Professor M Jagadesh Kumar, said that this scheme would provide much-needed research opportunities to the faculties of state universities, 45% of which are located in rural areas. He also emphasized on the need to train the faculty of the universities on how to write and submit proposals, procurements, and management of projects.
“As a large number of the state universities are in rural backgrounds, they can also take part in ground-level research that would benefit the local industry and local farmers and work for grassroot problems needing innovative solutions,” said K N Vyas, Secretary Department of Atomic Energy.
“In this scheme, the state universities will have level competition to secure research funding, and present significant opportunities for strengthening of research ecosystem in state universities to upgrade their research capabilities to national and international levels,” said SERB Secretary Professor Sandeep Verma.
The growth of existing research capabilities at these institutions is imperative to ensure horizontal diffusion of research excellence reaching all research students hoping to contribute to national R&D ecosystem, to propagate scientific temper and promoting enhancement of quality through SERB support.
SERB-SURE scheme provides research support to active researchers belonging to state and private universities and colleges, including self-financed institutions working within these universities, across India, to undertake research and development in frontier areas of science, engineering, and quantitative social science.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
Performance of Fisheries Sector
Realizing the immense scope for development of fisheries and aquaculture, the Government of India hasrestructured the Central Plan Schemes under an umbrella of Blue Revolution. The restructured CentrallySponsored Scheme  on Blue Revolution: Integrated Development and Management ofFisherieswasapproved in December, 2015 by the CCEA with a total central budgetary outlay of Rs.3000 crorefor five years .
The major components of the CSS on Blue Revolution scheme are as under:
i. Development of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture,
ii. Development of Marine Fisheries, Infrastructure and Post-harvest Operations,
iii. National Scheme for Welfare of Fishermen
iv. Monitoring, Control and Surveillance and other need-based Interventions ,
v. Institutional Arrangement for Fisheries Sector,
vi. Strengthening of Database & Geographical Information System of the Fisheries Sector ,
vii. National Fisheries Development Board and its activities
The Blue Revolution scheme, with its multi-dimensional activities, focuses mainly on increasingfisheries production and productivity from both aquaculture and fisheries resources in inland and marine sectors.Further, foreseeing the immense scope for development of fisheries and aquaculture sector, various initiatives have been taken by the Government of India through launching a ‘Fisheries and Aquaculture InfrastructureDevelopment Fund ’ on 24th October, 2018, at a total outlay of Rs 7522.48 crore to assist in creatingseveral infrastructural needs of the sector in the country. The Government of India has also extended the facilityof Kisan Credit Card  to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to help them meet their working capitalneeds. The KCC facility will help fishers and fish farmers to meet their short term working capital requirements.
The fish production in the country is growing at an annual average rate of 7% during recentyears. The details of total fish production and the Gross Value Added  in the fisheries sector in thecountry during the last three years and current year are as under:
Fish Production  and its Gross Value Added  in India
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Year
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Marine
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Inland
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Total
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Growth rate

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Gross Value Added 

at current prices
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2015-16
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36.00
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71.62
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107.62
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4.89
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1,32,720
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2016-17
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36.25
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78.06
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114.31
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6.22
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1,54,421
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2017-18
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36.88
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89.02
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125.90
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10.14
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1,75,573
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2018-19 
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37.10
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97.10
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134.20
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6.60
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N.A.
p- provisional
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Extension of Last Date for Entries for Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman till 8th July, 2023
Acknowledging the positive role and responsibility of Media in disseminating the outreach of International Day of Yoga 2023, it has been decided to extend the last date for submission of entries for the Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman  2nd Edition – 2023 till 8th July, 2023.
Media Houses may send their entries and content for Antarashtriya Yoga Diwas Media Samman  2nd Edition – 2023 by 8th July, 2023 to aydms2023.mib[at]gmail[dot]com. The detailed guidelines for participation may be accessed on the website of the Ministry of I&B  and Press Information Bureau .
Ministry of Defence
VISIT OF CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF  TO CENTRAL SERVICING DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION  ON 21 SEP 23
Gen Anil Chauhan PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, CDS visited CSDO at New Delhi on 21 Sep 23. He was received by AOM, Air Marshal CR Mohan AVSM, VSM. CSDO is a premiere institute entrusted with the responsibility of formulation of maintenance philosophies of IAF.
During the visit, he was briefed on the capabilities of two critical Enterprise Resource Planning  Software of IAF i.e Integrated Material Management Online System  for automated inventory management and Electronic Maintenance Management System  for maintenance management.
The CDS appreciated the expanse of the two ERPs which were conceived with the aim of Digital India. He also emphasised the importance of expansion of both the ERPs amongst all three services for integrated maintenance and inventory management.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
States/UTs empowered for management of COVID-19
Government of India has taken a number of proactive and timely measures such as travel restrictions, universal screening of passengers at airports and seaports, suspension of visas and self-quarantine measures to effectively prevent, contain and manage COVID-19.
The identification of additional quarantine facilities, development of isolation wards, training of health workers & doctors, ensuring adequate equipments, PPEs, medicines, masks etc., are being strengthened further in all States and UTs.
Cabinet Secretary today reviewed preparedness and actions taken with Chief Secretaries of various States through a video conference. He emphasized on strengthening preventive and control measures with adequate number of isolation wards, need to enhance quarantine facilities and ensure that arrivals from the identified countries are quarantined as per the laid guidelines, and also reviewed the steps taken for mass awareness regarding COVID- 19.
To check the shortages and black-marketing, Government of India has declared masks and hand sanitizers as essential commodities under Essential Commodities Act up to June 30, 2020. Under the Essential Commodities Act, States can ask manufacturers to enhance their production capacity of these items, to make the supply chain smooth.
Few states have also utilised the enabling provision for infectious disease management as provided under Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. Under the Act, the States may take, or require or empower any person to take some measures and by public notice prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public.
Under the Disaster Management Act, the States/UTs can now draw funds from the State Disaster Response Fund, in addition to the funds from the state government and the NHM. Ministry of Home Affairs has issued detailed guidelines to States/UTs in this regard.
In addition, the network of labs equipped to test COVID-19 have been expanded to 52, in total.
Also, 12,29,363 passengers have been screened from 11,406 flights at the 30 designated airports. In addition, instructions to enforce quarantine for all incoming passengers as per the guidelines are being implemented.
There are 84 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, as of now. Of these, 10 have recovered and been discharged. Contact tracing of these cases has led to identification of more than 4000 contacts who have been put under surveillance. Efforts are on to identify further contacts of these cases.
It is reiterated that Indian nationals are strongly advised to avoid all non-essential travel abroad and refrain from travelling to countries reporting high cases and deaths as mentioned in our Travel Advisories. All incoming international passengers returning to India should self- monitor their health and follow the required DO’s and DON’Ts as detailed by the Government.
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles loss of lives due to mishap at a factory in Bharuch, Gujarat
Announces ex-gratia from PMNRF
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to mishap at a factory in Bharuch, Gujarat. The Prime Minister has also announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 Lakhs to the next kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those injured in the incident from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund .
The Prime Minister Office tweeted;
"PM @narendramodi has expressed grief on the loss of lives due to a mishap at a factory in Bharuch. He extends condolences to the bereaved families.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of the deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000."
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Govt. sends in experts to help Odisha government in effective management of forest fires in the state.
Centre monitoring situation closely.
Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar today decided to form a three-member expert team to help the Odisha government to help control the unprecedented fire incidents in the state.
The team which will be moving to Odisha soon will tender expert technical advice and handholding towards early and effective dousing of the forest fires. This was informed by Shri. Javadekar in a tweet message earlier today.
Acting on the directions of the Union Environment Minister, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Changehas constituted a team consisting of:
i. Dr. Amit Mallick, IGF, National Tiger Conservation Authority, New Delhi
ii. Shri Subratt Mahapatra, DDG, MoEF&CC Regional Office, Bhubaneswar
iii. Ms. Arti Chaudhary, Head, Silviculture –ICFRE 
The initial Terms ofReference for the team would be:
i. Assessment of the status of fire incidents in Odisha, Similipal Tiger Reserve / Biosphere Reserve in particular.
ii. Expert and technical advice to the State for containment in control of fire in forest area.
iii. Status of loss of forest and wildlife and its relationship with poaching, if any.
The team would be working till the State attains a normal situation with respect to fire incidents. Further, the Environment Minister informed that along with the team at MoEFCC he will himself be monitoring everyday map showing the forest fire detections in the entire State of Odisha and also a separate map showing fire detection in Similipal Tiger Reserve / Biosphere Reserve.
Ministry of Defence
INDIA and CHINA agree to work towards full implementation of ongoing confidence building measures
Raksha Mantri Smt Nirmala Sitharaman met State Councilor and Defence Minister of China Gen. Wei Fenghe, here today. The Chinese Defence Minister is on an official bilateral visit to India from 21- 24 August 2018
The two Ministers held extensive discussions on bilateral defence related engagement as well as regional and international developments in a free, frank and constructive manner. They welcomed recent exchanges between their Armed Forces which had enhanced mutual trust and understanding to implement the consensus reached between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at the Informal Sumit in Wuhan.
It was decided to expand the engagement between their Armed Forces relating to training, joint exercises and other professional interactions. Both sides also decided to work towards a new bilateral MoU on Defence Exchanges and Cooperation to replace the MoU signed in 2006.
The Ministers also discussed issues relating to the border areas. It was agreed to work towards full implementation of ongoing confidence building measures as well as greater interactions at the working level to ensure the maintenance of peace and tranquillity, including early operationalisation of the Hotline between the relevant departments of their Armed Forces
SRR/NAo/ Rajib
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Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
MSP Operations during Kharif Marketing Season 2020-21
In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season  2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at its MSP from farmers as per its existing MSP Schemes.
Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring States & UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Maharashtra with purchase of over 318.00 LMTs of paddy up to 30.11.2020 against the last year corresponding purchase of 268.15 LMT showing an increase of 18.58 % over last year. Out of the total purchase of 318.00 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 202.77 LMT which is 63.76 % of total procurement.
About 29.70 Lac farmers have already been benefitted from the ongoing KMS procurement Operations with MSP value of Rs. 60038.68 Crore.
Further, based on the proposal from the States, approval was accorded for procurement of 45.24 LMT of Pulse and Oilseeds of Kharif Marketing Season 2020 for the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh under Price Support Scheme . Further, sanction for procurement of 1.23 LMT of Copra  for the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was also given. For other States/UTs, approval will also be accorded on receipt of proposals for procurement of Pulses, Oilseeds and Copra under PSS so that procurement of FAQ grade of these crops can be made at notified MSP for the year 2020-21 directly from the registered farmers, if the market rate goes below MSP during the notified harvesting period in the respective States/UTs by the Central Nodal Agencies through State nominated procuring agencies.
Upto 30.11.2020, the Government through its Nodal Agencies has procured 104546.68 MT of Moong, Urad, Groundnut Pods and Soyabean having MSP value of Rs. 563.43 Crores benefitting 60107 farmers in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Rajasthan.
Similarly, 5089 MT of copra  having MSP value of Rs.52.40 crore has been procured benefitting 3961 farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu upto 30.11.2020 as against the last year corresponding purchase of 293.34 MT of copra. In respect of Copra and Urad, rates are ruling above MSP in most of the major producing States. The respective State/UTs Governments are making necessary arrangements for commencement of procurement from the date as decided by the respective States based on the arrivals in respect of Kharif Pulses and Oilseeds.
Procurement operations of seed cotton  under MSP are going on smoothly in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. Till 30.11.2020 a quantity of 2909242 cotton bales valuing Rs.8515.53 Crore has been procured benefitting 581449 farmers.
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated/laid the foundation stones for various projects of Government of Gujarat related to health, irrigation, water supply and also the projects of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways related to upgradation of Deendayal Port, Kandla from GMERS, Gandhinagar today .
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the people of Gujarat have a culture of enterprise and innovation. The entrepreneurs of Gujarat have given a special identity to Gujarat and India. Gujarat is one of the leading states in the country in terms of development. She said that Gujarat has presented examples of natural farming and environmental protection along with industrial progress. She noted that while about 5 percent of the country's population resides in Gujarat, it contributes about 20 percent of the total national agricultural production. She said that successful experiments of agricultural development of Gujarat are being adopted all over the country.
The President said that for a very long time, the geographical location of Gujarat, especially in parts of North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch, water scarcity had caused great problems to the people. But today that situation has changed completely. Under the 'Sardar Sarovar Project', irrigation water is being provided to the people from a vast canal network. This has changed the lives of lakhs of people. She was happy to note that according to the ‘Composite Water Management Index’ of NITI Aayog, Gujarat has been ranked first in the country in water management for the past three years.
The President said that in the field of healthcare, Gujarat has made impressive achievements. She noted that Gujarat is the first state in India to issue health cards to pregnant women. She was also happy to note that according to a report of NITI Aayog released in 2020-21, Gujarat ranks first in the country in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal "Good Health and Well-being".
The President expressed confidence that projects which are inaugurated and for which foundation stones were laid today, will create new employment and business opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs. She was also confident that Super Speciality Hospital and Medical College, whose foundation stones were laid today will cater to the needs of the tribal population of Narmada district.
Earlier after landing in Ahmedabad, the President visited Sabarmati Ashram where she paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and spun the charkha.